History, doctrine, culture, books

Calibrating Apostasy

The Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles released a short three-paragraph statement on Saturday June 28, 2014, posted at the Office of the First Presidency page at LDS.org. It seems like a helpful and timely statement responding to issues raised in the wake of Kate Kelly's excommunication on June 23, 2014. In particular:

Office of the First Presidency. Statements from Public Affairs are helpful but not definitive, as it is never quite clear what authority PA statements carry. I have heard several variations on the comment "It would be nice to hear what Church leaders have to say on this issue" over the last week. Now we know.

Only men are ordained ... for now. Some people are reading the statement as a definitive rejection of the announced mission of Ordain Women, as if it read, "Only men are ordained, forever and ever." But you can never really say that in a church founded on continuing revelation, and the statement doesn't say that. It appears to simply be stating current LDS doctrine, although one could read the expansive first sentence as hinting that a male-only priesthood is part of God's Eternal and Unchanging Plan of Happiness. Here are the first two sentences:

In God's plan for the happiness and eternal progression of His children, the blessings of His priesthood are equally available to men and women. Only men are ordained to serve in priesthood offices.

No, you won't get exed for blogging or Facebooking. That seems to be the upshot of this sentence in the second paragraph: "Members are always free to ask such questions and earnestly seek greater understanding." However, I have read a number of credible accounts from members who share questions or doubts with their bishop, only to get involuntarily released from callings and even have their temple recommend cancelled. Others in the same situation receive support and encouragement from their bishop to work through such questions. The sad fact of the matter is that it is safer to ask questions of FARMS, FAIR, and your favorite online forum than to ask your bishop. If leaders want to encourage members to bring questions and doubts to their bishop, they first need to discourage bishops from overreacting to disclosures and prematurely shifting from pastoral to disciplinary mode.

This statement only refers to asking questions, but earlier statements gave a broader view of the process. Here's from a Church statement posted at the LDS Newsroom on June 11, 2014:

[T]here is no effort to tell local leaders to keep members from blogging or discussing questions online. On the contrary, Church leaders have encouraged civil online dialogue, and recognize that today it's how we communicate and discuss ideas with one another.

So the most recent FP statement, along with the earlier statements, appears to be an attempt to counter the understandable idea that that recent actions are part of a larger campaign to shut down online discussions by members. They are saying that no one is trying to shut down online discussion.

A public definition of apostasy. The definition of apostasy that local leaders are given to guide their local disciplinary actions is contained in Handbook 1. In most cases someone charged with apostasy does not have access to the relevant material in Handbook 1, although the bishop is supposed to summarize that material in the letter to the accused. Bishops don't always do a great job of sharing that information. For example the June 8, 2014 letter to Kate Kelly told her the time, date, and place of her church court and that it was called "on the grounds of apostasy," but did not bother to give the definition of apostasy (!) or identify which ground of apostasy (there are several) was being applied to her case (!!!). So yes, publicly posting a reliable definition of apostasy is a real step forward. Here it is, from the third paragraph of the FP statement:

Apostasy is repeatedly acting in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its faithful leaders, or persisting, after receiving counsel, in teaching false doctrine.

A narrow definition of apostasy. Furthermore, the definition of apostasy (which is now public, so we can actually talk about it) is narrow, not broad. I titled this post "calibrating apostasy," and that is what the wording of this definition appears to do, narrowing the expansive popular LDS understanding of the term. Not just public statements or criticism: it has to be "public opposition to the Church or its faithful leaders." And not just any old public opposition, but public opposition that is "clear, open, and deliberate." The second clause is likewise rather limited. Just teaching false doctrine is not apostasy (heck, that happens every Sunday at church). You've got to be persistent about it.

So this short statement does a lot of good things. Let's hope local leaders take it to heart.

Note: In case the link to the First Presidency Letter breaks or the page is removed, here is the text of that letter as posted at LDS.org:

Office of the First Presidency 47 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

June 28, 2014

In God's plan for the happiness and eternal progression of His children, the blessings of His priesthood are equally available to men and women. Only men are ordained to serve in priesthood offices. All service in the Church has equal merit in the eyes of God. We express profound gratitude for the millions of Latter-day Saint women and men who willingly and effectively serve God and His children. Because of their faith and service, they have discovered that the Church is a place of spiritual nourishment and growth.

We understand that from time to time Church members will have questions about Church doctrine, history, or practice. Members are always free to ask such questions and earnestly seek greater understanding. We feel special concern, however, for members who distance themselves from Church doctrine or practice and, by advocacy, encourage others to follow them.

Simply asking questions has never constituted apostasy. Apostasy is repeatedly acting in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its faithful leaders, or persisting, after receiving counsel, in teaching false doctrine.

The Council of The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of MormonismGivens and Grow's warts-and-all biography of this energetic missionary, author, and apostle whose LDS career spanned Joseph Smith's life, the emigration to Utah, and Brigham Young's early leadership of the Church in Utah. My Review